• Hacer Ataman and Merve Tuncer.
• İstanbul Medeniyet Üniversitesi, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing, Department of Nursing - Istanbul, Turkey.
• Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992). 2023 Jan 1; 69 (5): e20221302e20221302.

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to examine the effect of COVID-19 fear on prenatal distress and childbirth preference in primipara.MethodsThis descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 206 primipara women in Istanbul between June and December 2021. The data were collected with an information form, "The Fear of COVID-19 Scale" and "The Prenatal Distress Questionnaire."ResultsThe median of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale was 14.00 (7-31) and the median of the Prenatal Distress Questionnaire was 10.00 (0-21). A statistically significant positive and weak correlation was found between "The Fear of COVID-19 Scale" and "The Prenatal Distress Questionnaire" (r=0.21; p=0.00). Overall, 75.2% of pregnant women preferred normal (vaginal) delivery. There was no statistically significant relationship between "The Fear of COVID-19 Scale" and childbirth preference (p>0.05).ConclusionIt was determined that fear of coronavirus increases prenatal distress. Women should be supported to cope with fear of COVID-19 and prenatal distress, both during the preconceptional and antenatal periods.

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